Device for winding and unwinding cables onto a cable drum

ABSTRACT

A device for winding and unwinding cables onto a cable drum (9) includes a portal-like supporting frame (1) and bracket arms (4) suspended from it. The bracket arms (4) are adjustable in length, and the distance between the bracket arms (4) is also adjustable. Rotatable spindle pins (8) are carried at the lower ends of the bracket arms (4). The bracket arms (4) are configured to be freely resilient in the longitudinal direction, and furthermore the spindle pins (8) are held at the bracket arms (4) so as to be movable transversely thereto. As a result, insertion of the spindle pins (8) into receiving openings in the cable drums is facilitated so that automatic operation is possible practically without malfunction even if there are dimensional errors in the receiving openings of the cable drums.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a device for winding and unwinding cables ontoa cable drum, the device including a portal-like supporting frame whichis provided with two bracket arms that are suspended from a transversecrossbar and are adjustable in their distance from one another. Each armincludes a stationary arm portion and at least one arm portion that canbe moved longitudinally in the manner of a telescope and by way of alifting drive from a lower receiving position into an upper windingposition. A rotatably mounted spindle pin arranged to receive the cabledrum and oriented toward the other bracket arm is disposed at the freeend of each longitudinally movable arm portion.

A device of the above described type is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.3,687,385. The advantage of this known winding device is that thebracket arms are always able to accommodate cable drums of any desiredsize within certain diameter ranges starting from a predeterminedwinding position defined by the shortest arm length. The drawback of theprior art device is that the bracket arms, except for theirtelescope-like longitudinal mobility and the spindle pins, are of arigid construction so that cable drum and winding device must beaccurately aligned with one another in order to be able to introduce thespindle pins into the central bores of the cable drum to pick up thedrum. Positioning devices conceivable for large cable drums offer nosolution, particularly if, for example, in connection with heavy cabledrums made of wood, the lateral delimiting discs are offset relative toone another after repeated use and the lateral openings at the cabledrum itself are no longer flush with one another.

German Unexamined Published Patent Application DE-OS 2,713,866 disclosesa winding device for cables in which a support provided at each one oftwo vertical lateral supports is guided so as to move up and down andwherein the spindle pins are suspended in the support in a pendulumfashion, with each support being provided with its separate drive withthe aid of which the spindle pin is raised by a small amount and is thusarrested with respect to its pendulum movement. The supports are thenraised as a whole by their drives to the predetermined winding position.The prior art device is very expensive and requires additional controlsfor the actuation of the individual functions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is now an object of the invention to improve a device for winding andunwinding cables of the above-mentioned type so that it is possiblewithout additional drive means to accommodate cable drums in which thelateral openings are not exactly flush.

This is accomplished according to the invention in that at least aportion of each bracket arm is resiliently supported, in the unloadedstate, independently of the lifting drive so as to be movable back andforth within limits in its longitudinal direction relative to thesupporting frame; each spindle pin is movable back and forth withinlimits transversely to the longitudinal direction of the associatedbracket arm; and locking means are provided to arrest the longitudinalmovement at the bracket arm and the transverse movement of the spindlepin in the winding position. If a cable drum is disposed between the twobracket arms which have been moved apart with respect to their spacingfrom one another and have been extended in the manner of a telescopeinto the lower receiving position, then movement of the bracket armstoward one another to the distance between the spindle pins aspredetermined by the width of the cable drum, enables the spindle pin oneach side to automatically thread itself into the associated receivingopening in the cable drum. The free upward and downward mobility of thebracket arms in the longitudinal direction, on the one hand, and thepossible movement of the spindle pins transversely thereto, on the otherhand, here ensure, in connection with the conically tapered spindle pin,the necessary transverse mobilities. As soon as the spindle pins arethreaded on both sides, the lifting drive of the telescope-like armportion raises it into the winding position defined by the lower end ofthe arm portion connected with the supporting frame, with the limitedlongitudinal movement of the bracket arm, on the one hand, and thetransverse movement of the spindle pin, on the other hand, beingprevented by appropriate locking means. Longitudinal and transversemovement may be accomplished, for example, in that the stationary armportion is connected by way of a spring element with the crossbar whichpermits free resiliency toward the top and bottom in the unloaded state,with pivoting movements relative to the spindle pin also being possibleby way of a corresponding pivoting movement of the entire bracket arm.If the longitudinally displaceable telescoping arm is raised into thewinding position by way of the driving device, for example an adjustmentspindle, then the spring element is compressed when the winding positionis reached and thus the upper end of the bracket arm is drawn into alock opening so that a rigid connection is then produced between thetransverse crossbar and the bracket arm.

A preferred feature of the invention provides that each spindle pin isconnected with the free end of the longitudinally movable arm portion soas to be pivotal transversely to the longitudinal direction of thebracket arm and that locking means are disposed at the free end of thestationary arm portion for fixing the spindle pin in the windingposition. With this arrangement, the limitedly resilient longitudinalmovement of the bracket arm, on the one hand, and the transversemovement of the spindle pin, on the other hand, are separated from oneanother so that the locks can be simplified with respect to the momentsto be absorbed. However, in this embodiment as well, the arrangement issuch that when the winding position is reached with the aid of thelifting drive, that is, without additional drive means, the longitudinalmovement of the bracket arm as well as the transverse movement of thespindle pin are locked.

As a further advantageous feature of the invention it is provided that afurther arm portion in the form of a telescoping guide is disposed atthe free end f the longitudinally movable arm portion and a supportingpin connected with the bearing housing of the spindle pin is guided inthe telescoping guide so as to be longitudinally movable and issupported by spring elements at the telescoping guide. Thisconfiguration has the advantage that the limited spring movement in thelongitudinal direction of the arm as well as the transverse movement ofthe spindle pin relative thereto take place in the region of the freeend of the bracket arm. The spring elements required for thelongitudinal movement, since they need carry a significantly lowerweight, can be made very much weaker so that the spring forces to beovercome during "threading" into the holes on the sides of the cabledrum and thus the transverse forces generated thereby are significantlylower.

As a further advantageous feature it is here provided that thetelescoping guide and the support pin are connected with thelongitudinally movable arm portion so as to be pivotal about ahorizontal axis. This permits a simple and compact structure since onlyappropriate bearing pins are required for the pivoting movement betweenthe telescoping guide and the free end of the movable arm portion.

Another feature of the invention provides that the bearing housing ofthe spindle pin is connected with the portion of the support arm that islongitudinally movable in a limitedly resilient manner so that thespindle pin is able to pivot about a vertical axis. This solution can beemployed for configurations in which the bracket arm as a whole isconnected with the supporting frame so as to be resilient in thelongitudinal direction and in arrangements in which the displaceable armportion is resiliently supported or a resiliently configured telescopingguide is provided at the free end of the displaceable arm portion. Anadvisable feature of the invention further provides that centeringsprings support the spindle pin in its center position with respect toits pivoting movement. This arrangement is of particular advantage ifthe bearing housing of the spindle pin is connected with the bracket armso as to be pivotal about a vertical axis. In this way it is ensuredthat in the receiving position the tips of the spindle pins are orientedopposite one another in a precisely flush alignment.

A further feature of the invention provides that the vertical pivot axisof the bearing housing is disposed at the end of the bearing housingfacing away from the tip of the spindle pin and the end facing thespindle pin is supported in a link-shaped opening in the arm portion.

Another advantageous feature of the invention provides that the lockingmeans for fixing the movement of the spindle pins is formed in each caseby a fork-shaped attachment which is open toward the free bracket armend on the stationary arm portion. When the winding position is reached,this fork-shaped attachment grips around the bearing housing of thespindle pin. In this way, on the one hand, transverse movement of thespindle pin is prevented and, on the other hand, an abutment is formedbecause of which the spring permitting limited longitudinal movement iscompressed as a result of the remaining movement of the lifting driveand thus this possible movement is also suppressed.

Another advisable feature of the invention provides that the spindle pinis spherical in the region of its largest diameter. This configurationoffers the advantage that even if the receiving holes in the side discsof the cable drum are not flush, the spindle pin can be pushed into theside openings without force when the two bracket arms are moved towardone another so that during the later lifting the cable drum is able toalign itself properly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in greater detail with respect toschematic drawings of embodiments thereon, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a winding device in the winding position;

FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C shows a bracket arm of the winding device of FIG. 1in the winding position and in two different receiving positions;

FIG. 3 shows a front view of the free end of a bracket arm (arrow A inFIG. 2C, partially in section);

FIG. 4 is a top view, partially in section taken along line IV--IV ofFIG. 5, showing a spindle pin mounted in accordance with a secondembodiment; and

FIG. 5 shows a front view, partially in section taken along line V--V ofFIG. 4, of a portion of the second embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The winding device shown in FIG. 1 includes a supporting frame 1 whicheither--as shown--may be fixed to the floor or bottom 2 of a housing ormay be provided with a travelling mechanism, not shown in detail here.Two bracket arms 4 are displaceably mounted at a transverse crossbar 3of supporting frame 1 and are movable in a mirror image to the centeraxis of supporting frame 1 (double arrow 5) by means of a drive, notshown in detail here, for example a spindle having clockwise andcounterclockwise threads.

Bracket arms 4 are each composed of a stationary arm portion 6 and atelescope-like longitudinally movable arm portion 7 that is guided instationary arm portion 6 and at whose free end a spindle pin 8 isrotatably mounted. Spindle pins 8 may be guided by the above-describedtransverse movement in the direction of arrow 5 toward a cable drum 9positioned between both bracket arms 4 and may each be inserted into theside hole of the respective side disc 10 of cable drum 9. In theillustrated embodiment, the movement of longitudinally movable armportion 7 is effected by way f a lifting spindle 11 which is connectedwith a corresponding lifting drive not shown in detail here. The liftingdrive is configured in such a way that the lifting spindles 11 of bothbracket arms 4 can be driven in synchronism. The lifting movement willbe described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C.

FIGS. 2A-2C show a bracket arm 4 in different operating positions. InFIG. 2A, bracket arm 4 is shown in the winding position, that is,spindle pin 8 has reached its highest position above floor 2, i.e., thelongitudinally movable arm portion 7 is held at the highest possibleposition by the lifting drive for lifting spindle il.

In FIG. 2B, the movable arm portion 7 is lowered by a small amount. Thisposition shows the receiving position for the largest possible cabledrums, that is, the position in which spindle pin 8--as will bedescribed in detail below --is unlocked with respect to its mobility.This illustration also shows that the lifting spindle 11 is held in aspindle nut 12 which is fastened to the upper end of the longitudinallymovable arm portion 7 and which is supported on the interior ofstationary arm portion 6 by way of supporting rollers 13. At the lowerend of the stationary arm portion 6, supporting rollers 14 are disposedwhich project into the interior through corresponding recesses andsupport the longitudinally movable arm portion 7 in this region.

In FIG. 2C, bracket arm 4 has been extended to its longest possiblelength and is depicted in the receiving position for the smallestpossible cable drum diameter.

FIG. 3 shows, in the direction of arrow A of FIG. 2C and to a largerscale, the configuration of the spindle pin mount in greater detail. Inthis arrangement, a further telescoping arm portion 15 is provided atthe free end of longitudinally movable arm portion 7. An outer armportion 16 here has a tubular configuration and is held atlongitudinally movable arm portion 7 so as to be pivotal back and forthin the plane of the drawing by way of a pivot pin 17. In the outerportion 16, a supporting pin 18 is guided so as to be longitudinallymovable but secured against twisting. The upper end of supporting pin 18is supported by way of spring elements 19 on the tubular portion 16 sothat the supporting pin 18 is able to resiliently move up and down overthe length indicated by arrow 20. The supporting pin 18 is connectedwith a bearing housing 21 in which spindle pin 8 is rotatably mounted.Due to the pendulum-like suspension, spindle pin 8 is able to pivot backand forth around the center position by the degree indicated by doublearrow 22.

In order to receive a cable drum 9, the spindle pins 8 of themoved-apart bracket arms 4 are lowered to the required height. Then thetwo bracket arms 4 are moved toward one another. Since spindle pins 8are movably connected with bracket arms 4 in the direction of arrow 20as well as in the direction of arrow 22 (FIG. 3), spindle pins 8 areable to thread themselves between the receiving openings in the sidediscs 10 of cable drum 9 even if there are alignment errors. If the twolongitudinally displaceable arm portions 7 are raised by lifting spindle11 into the winding position shown in FIG. 2A, spring elements 19 at thefurther arm portion 15 are initially compressed due to the weight of thecable drum so that the spindle pin 8 is arrested with respect to itsfree longitudinal mobility.

When the winding position shown in FIG. 2A is reached, lifting spindle11 draws the bearing housing 21 of spindle pin 8 into a claw-shapedrecess 23 at stationary arm portion 6 so that this recess 23 now gripscompletely around bearing housing 21. In this position the bearinghousing 21 is thus locked relative to a free transverse movement withrespect to bracket arm 4. In this position, the winding process may thentake place.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show another embodiment of the spindle pin bearing. Whilein the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, transverse movement of spindle pin 8is effected by pivoting about the horizontal axis defined by pivot pin17, in the embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 thearrangement is such that spindle pin 8 is pivotal about a vertical axis.For this purpose, the rear end of spindle pin shaft 24 is mounted so asto rotate in a bearing housing 25 which in turn is horizontally pivotalrelative to the longitudinally movable arm portion 7 about a verticallyaligned pivot pin 26. The end of pin shaft 24 facing spindle pin 8 issupported in a bearing housing 27 which in turn is supported in aconnecting link guide 28. Connecting link guide 28 has long cavitywhich, at each end face, is provided with a compression spring bushing29 of such a configuration that spindle pin 8 is again able to pivotback and forth somewhat in the horizontal direction. In the embodimentaccording to FIG. 3, the spindle pin is centered by gravity while, inthe embodiment according to FIGS. 4 and 5, centering occurs by way ofthe two compression spring bushings 29. The limitedly resilient movementin the longitudinal direction of arm portion 7 can take place--asdescribed in connection with FIG. 3--by way of a further arm portion 15equipped with a telescoping guide or by a resilient support of thebracket arm itself. This is possible, for example, in that anappropriate supporting spring (not illustrated) is disposed between thelongitudinally displaceable arm portion 7 and the spindle nut 12connected therewith so as to ensure a limited amount of free upward anddownward mobility. If, after insertion of spindle pins 8 into the holesof the side discs 10 of a cable drum 9, the cable drum 9 is raised, thenthe spring elements are initially compressed--as described above--andthe limited mobility in the vertical direction is prevented. In theembodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5 as well, as soon as spindle pin 8 reachesthe winding position shown in FIG. 2A, a claw-shaped recess 23 gripsaround so that here again the transverse movement is locked.

Moreover, FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of spindle pin 8 which is sphericalin shape in the region of its largest pin diameter. This furthersimplifies the threading of spindle pin 8 into the holes in the cabledrum.

We claim:
 1. A device for winding and unwinding cables onto a cabledrum, comprising:a supporting frame having a transverse crossbar; afirst bracket arm which is suspended from the crossbar and which extendsin a first longitudinal direction, the first bracket arm including astationary arm portion and at least one further arm portion which ismovable in the manner of a telescope in the first longitudinaldirection; a second bracket arm which is suspended from the crossbar andwhich extends in a second longitudinal direction that is parallel to thefirst longitudinal direction, the second bracket arm including astationary arm portion and at least one further arm portion which ismovable in the manner of a telescope in the second longitudinaldirection, the second bracket arm being separated from the first bracketarm by a distance that is adjustable; first and second spindle pins tosupport the cable drum; first mounting means for mounting the firstspindle pin on the first bracket arm so that the first spindle isrotatable and extends toward the second bracket arm, the first mountingmeans additionally including means for permitting the first spindle pinto move back and forth within predetermined limits transverse to thefirst longitudinal direction; second mounting means for mounting thesecond spindle pin on the second bracket arm so that the second spindlepin is rotatable and extends toward the first bracket arm, the secondmounting means additionally including means for permitting the secondspindle pin to move back and forth within predetermined limitstransverse to the second longitudinal direction; lifting means forextending and retracting the first and second bracket arms in theirrespective longitudinal directions to move the spindle pins betweenrespective receiving positions and respective winding positions that aredisposed above the receiving positions; first resilient means forresiliently supporting a further arm portion of the first bracket arm sothat the first spindle pin can move back and forth within predeterminedlimits in the first longitudinal direction, when the spindle pins do notsupport the cable drum, independently of the lifting means; secondresilient means for resiliently supporting a further arm portion of thesecond bracket arm so that the second spindle pin can move back andforth within predetermined limits in the second longitudinal direction,when the spindle pins do not support the cable drum, independently ofthe lifting means; first arresting means for arresting the longitudinaland transverse movements of the first spindle pin when the first spindlepin is in its winding position; and second arresting means for arrestingthe longitudinal and transverse movements of the second spindle pin whenthe second spindle pin is in its winding position.
 2. The device ofclaim 1, wherein the at least one further arm portion of the firstbracket arm includes a further arm portion with a free end, wherein thefirst mounting means mounts the first spindle pin at the free end of thefurther arm portion with a free end, wherein the stationary arm portionof the first bracket arm has a free end, and wherein the first arrestingmeans is provided at the fee end of the stationary arm portion of thefirst bracket arm.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least onefurther arm portion of the first bracket arm includes a first furtherarm portion with a free end, a second further arm portion inside thefirst further arm portion adjacent the free end thereof, and a thirdfurther arm portion inside the second further arm portion, wherein thefirst resilient means comprises a spring supporting the third furtherarm portion on the second further arm portion, and wherein the firstmounting means comprises a bearing housing for the first spindle pin,the bearing housing being connected to the third further arm portion. 4.The device of claim 3, wherein the means for permitting the firstspindle pin to move back and forth within predetermined limitstransverse to the first longitudinal direction comprises a horizontalpin pivotally connecting the second further arm portion to the firstfurther arm portion.
 5. The device of claim 1, wherein the firstmounting means comprises a bearing housing for the first spindle pin,and wherein the means for permitting the first spindle pin to move backand forth within predetermined limits transverse to the firstlongitudinal direction comprises means for mounting the bearing housingon the resiliently supported further arm portion of the first bracketarm so that the bearing housing is pivotal about a vertical axis.
 6. Thedevice of claim 5, wherein the first spindle pin has a center position,and wherein the first mounting means further comprises spring means forpivoting the bearing housing so that the first spindle pin is urgedtoward its center position.
 7. The device of claim 5, wherein thebearing housing has first and second ends, the first spindle pinextending from the first end of the bearing housing, wherein theresiliently supported further arm portion has an opening with an edge,and wherein the means for mounting the bearing housing comprises a shaftconnected to the bearing housing and extending away from the second endthereof, the shaft being pivotal about the vertical axis, one of theshaft and the bearing housing being supported on the edge of the openingin the resiliently supported further arm portion.
 8. The device of claim1, wherein the stationary arm portion of the first bracket arm has afree end, wherein the first mounting means comprises a bearing housingfor the first spindle pin, and wherein the first arresting meanscomprises fork-like means, provided at the free end of the stationaryarm portion of the first bracket arm, for gripping the bearing housingwhen the first spindle pin is in its winding position.
 9. The device ofclaim 1, wherein the first bearing pin has a region of largest diameter,and a spherical shape at its region of largest diameter.